LORAIN — “We’re going to have a special visitor tonight, and he’s going to want to know: “Have you been naughty or nice?”
“Nice!”
About 600 children screamed to Monica Snipes on Friday as she asked questions from the stage of The Palace Theater, 617 Broadway Ave., Lorain.
It’s hard to imagine a more lively, involved audience.
The Boys and Girls Club of Lorain County staged the annual Christmas party at The Palace for the first time this year as a way of introducing club members to community roots.
“It’s just a very beautiful venue,” said Snipes, a Lorain native who serves as director of special programs at the Boys and Girls Club. “And it’s giving some kids exposure to The Palace. Some of them haven’t had it.”
The Boys and Girls Club opened the Christmas party to club members and children from the community, Snipes said.
On stage the program included three hours packed with short Christmas movies such as “Merry Madagascar,” games, raffles of 150 presents, and performances by the Boys and Girls Club Choir, and dance teams such as the Lorain High School Titan Hype Team, Move It! Dance Project, and Boys and Girls in Motion.
Raffle prizes of dolls, scooters, electronic equipment and video games brought cheering children to their feet.
When the children left the theater, they received goodie bags of items donated by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Second Harvest Food Bank and Red Lobster Darden Restaurants, which sent gifts and added financial backing for the program, said Mike Conibear, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club.
“We have a great partnership with Lorain Palace Theater,” Conibear said, adding that when children leave for the evening those who need a new coat will receive one from Coats for Kids.
Sandi Domain, resource development director for Boys and Girls Club, said other sponsors include Kids Smile, 3-M sponsored by United Way, the Elyria Eagles, Kiedrowski’s Bakery, Dr. Jason Barb, and Bob and Laurie Bove, among others.
Alicia Smith, artistic director of Move It! Dance Project, said 50 girls ages 4 through 14 dance in the group.
“Ninety percent of them are residents of Lorain County,” said Smith, who serves alongside Angela Maggott, the executive director. “More than 70 percent are Boys and Girls Club members. Our program is a youth leadership development program for girls.”
On stage a “Nutcracker” video shown on the movie screen received delighted screams and cheers. Created by the Digital Arts Club, the video featured club members dancing to a “Nutcracker” song, so children saw their friends dancing on the big screen.
Snipes encouraged youth to sign up for Boys and Girls Club, which operates in 20 locations in Lorain County, she said, and offers various interest groups.
For information go to the Boys and Girls Club website at www.loraincountybgc.com.